Former scout explains why Chiefs’ Patrick Mahomes would thrive with any NFL team
We’re less than two weeks from the NFL Draft, and the Cincinnati Bengals seem likely to select LSU quarterback Joe Burrow.
The Bengals hope Burrow can turn around the franchise’s fortunes, and it goes beyond last season’s dreadful 2-14 record. Cincinnati hasn’t won a playoff game since 1991 when Bo Jackson was still in the NFL and “Home Alone” was the must-see movie in the United States.
Bucky Brooks, a former NFL player and scout who is on the NFL Network, believes quarterbacks are coveted in the draft because of their ability to turn around a franchise.
“That’s why grades on quarterbacks differ despite what production and win-loss records might suggest,” Brooks wrote. “The transcendent superstars at the position erase organizational mistakes, coaching flaws and personnel shortcomings to excel in their current situations.”
That was a lead-in to his ranking of the five most transcendent quarterbacks in the NFL. Atop the list is Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes, who was the MVP of Super Bowl LIV.
In writing about Mahomes, Brooks shot down a criticism from fans of other teams that Mahomes thrives because the Chiefs offense includes Tyreek Hill, Travis Kelce, Sammy Watkins and others.
“In the pocket, No. 15 shows outstanding discipline, poise and awareness when he opts to pick apart a defense with an assortment of timely rhythm throws,” Brooks wrote. “Although some observers have suggested that Mahomes benefits from playing with a track team on the outside featuring All-Pro-caliber playmakers (Tyreek Hill and Travis Kelce), we’ve seen the Chiefs’ offense surge after he replaced Alex Smith as the team’s QB1. The creative mind of Andy Reid has certainly helped enhance No. 15’s game, but watching his work as a collegian under another NFL head coach (Kliff Kingsbury) suggests that he would thrive in any situation.”
You can read more here of what Brooks wrote about Mahomes and the rest of his top five.
This story was originally published April 13, 2020 at 8:55 AM.
